Patients

Discovering His Voice, And Using It to Express Love

After living an isolated life, Reginaldo’s future includes planning a wedding.

February 13, 2026

Living in a rural area in northern Guatemala, Reginaldo had never ventured far from home.

A cleft lip condition made Reginaldo extremely shy, and was one of the reasons he felt more comfortable being alone. A few years ago, through a partnership with the municipality of Las Cruces in northern Petén, Operation Smile connected with him in a rural region where many families face long journeys to reach care or may not even know that surgery is an option.

Local partnerships like this help identify patients in communities far from medical centers and bring essential care closer to home, giving families hope and support where it’s needed most.…